The online survey was conducted from mid-July to mid-September of this year. The 11,844 JTU members responded it. JTU has implemented this survey since 2018, but there is no particular improvement. The relevant laws were amended but measures by Ministry of Education can be said not enough at all. Shunichi Yamazaki, Deputy General Secretary articulated at the press conference on February 11 ‘If this continues, public schools across the country could all go bankrupt at once if this continues.’

Main findings from the JTU survey

Yearly Change of Working Hour at School on Weekdays per Day (hh:mm)

Yearly Change of Working Hour at Home on Weekdays per Day (hh:mm)

Yearly Change of Working Hour at School on Weekends per Day (hh:mm)

Yearly Change of Working Hour at Home on Weekends per Day (hh:mm)

There are many factors for long working hours for educators including teacher shortage, too many teaching slots and other, but mainly for after-school club activities (out of curriculum) which is particular to Japan. Lower and higher second schools offer those activities and teachers need to play rules as manager and coach for students. The survey result showed that more than 40% thought they do not want to involve.

Right now, national budget 2025 has been discussed and an usual things are happening. Minister of Education has proposed increasing the adjustment allowance for public school teachers from 4% to 13% of their monthly salary in the 2025 budget only. On the other hand, Ministry of Finance has presented a plan that if a reduction in work hours is achieved, the adjustment amount is increased by 1% in the following year, and if they can reduce overtime to about 20 hours, they increase the allowance from 4% to 10% over a span of six years.

JTU can accept neither of them. We need more teachers, less workload (namely less teaching slots per teacher) and drastic amendment and/or abolishment of the relevant laws. We cannot waste time with petty responses. It is time to take immediate and effective responses for educators’ well-being and quality education.